In a dramatic turn of events at the United Cup in Perth, Alexander Shevchenko and Elena Rybakina led Kazakhstan to a decisive victory over Greece, eliminating the Greek team from the tournament.
Shevchenko stunned the tennis world by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets, 6-4, 7-6 (0). Tsitsipas, ranked No. 11 globally, struggled with unforced errors and physical issues, calling for a medical timeout during the match. Despite a late rally, Tsitsipas couldn’t overcome Shevchenko’s consistent performance.
Following Shevchenko’s victory, Rybakina sealed the tie by overpowering Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-3. Rybakina’s powerful serve and aggressive play were too much for Sakkari, who despite a brief comeback, couldn’t recover from an early deficit.
With this result, Kazakhstan secured a 2-0 victory in the tie, advancing to the quarter-finals while Greece was eliminated from the competition. The loss is a significant blow for the Greek team, which had high hopes of progressing further in the tournament.
The United Cup continues to showcase thrilling matches and unexpected outcomes, keeping fans on the edge of their seats. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the remaining teams vying for the prestigious title.
Stefanos Tsitsipas in 2024
Now the world no.11, Tsitsipas played his last match on the 30th of December when he was overcome by world no.78 Alexander Shevchenko 6-4 7-6(0) in the round robin in Australia (draw).
Presently, during this year Stefanos owns a compiled 1-1 win-loss record.
Elena Rybakina in 2024
Now ranked no.6, Elena played her last match on the 30th of December when she beat world no.32 Maria Sakkari 6-4 6-3 in the round robin in Australia (draw).
Currently, during this year Elena achieved a 2-0 win-loss record. Elena clinched 3 titles in 2024 in Brisbane, Abu Dhabi and Stuttgart. Elena was the finalist in Doha and Miami.
